Wales fans hit by visa problems

The Gôl charity visits orphanages during Wales away trips

Many Wales players, officials and fans travelling to a World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan are still waiting for visas.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) and fans are concerned red tape could prevent their entry into the country for the World Cup qualifier on 6 June.

They say the problem appears to be a rule change now requiring visitors to be formally "invited" to the country.

The Azeri embassy in London said there had been "technical problems" which had caused delays in issuing visas.

"We have made very strong representations to both the Azeri FA and the Azeri government as to why things are being held up," said FAW spokesperson Ceri Stennett.

Either we all go or none of us go FAW spokesperson Ceri Stennett

"They are dragging their feet quite badly at the moment and we've made our feelings known to them."

He said officials had been working on the issue for some time and he was "reasonably confident" the problem would be sorted out.

"We would not travel unless we have got our full complement of players and staff with us," he added.

"Either we all go or none of us go."

More than 70 Wales supporters are due to travel the 2,500 miles to Baku, including a group of 25 fans who are travelling by road and visiting orphanages along the way.

These fans, on a trip organised by Welsh football supporters' charity Gôl, are due to leave on Friday but they are still waiting for visas.

Gôl trustee Tim Hartley said the fans were determined to depart from Cardiff in their fleet of nine vehicles as planned.

'Epic journey'

"Nothing is going to stop the Welsh supporters - we're definitely going anyway. I'm sure it will all be sorted out but it would be nice to start the journey on Friday being able to get into Azerbaijan," he said.

"We will go to Tbilisi [in Georgia] and get the visas there or, if not, it will be an interesting sight to see 25 Welshmen on the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan demanding to finish their epic journey!"

Gôl, set up by Wales fans in 2002, was registered as a charity last year and aims to provide funds, aid and activities for young people in need.

The trip, which has been planned for months, involves fans visiting more than 20 orphanages in Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan itself.

But the problem in obtaining visas has been a setback for organisers.

'Friendly manner'

"The rules have changed since the previous two times we've visited Azerbaijan. We've got to get letters of invitation telexed through from Baku to the embassy in London and this has not happened," said Mr Hartley.

"Our representative Neil Dymock [a Gôl trustee] has been to the embassy [in London] on six separate occasions."

The Azeri embassy in London said a new system for visas had been introduced in Azerbaijan which required an invitation for visitors to be approved by the ministry of foreign affairs.

"There has been a technical problem with visa issuance and the delay [that] occurred is not only the case for the UK but also for other countries," said the embassy.

"We are delighted to say that the visas will be issued for Welsh fans on Friday morning as they are leaving on that day.

"We hope that the match between the two national teams will be held in a friendly manner and the stronger side will win."